Piedad is a Spanish environmentalist specialized in economic development. Since joining the organization in 2015, she has focused on honing strategic planning and achieving concrete results. Having worked in sustainable development and international cooperation for 17 years, she has wide experience on policy and field work in the Nexus between environment and “Leaving No One Behind”.
Before starting an international career, she worked in the private sector developing sustainable land management schemes, natural protected areas plans and strategic environmental impact assessments. In 2004, she joined the Spanish Cooperation Agency for Development (AECID) as Mediterranean advisor on poverty and environment and coordinator of a regional programme with over a hundred national initiatives. After that, she was deployed as programme director of the technical cooperation office for the Palestinian Territories.
In 2006, she joined UNDP Colombia, as director of the regional office for the Eje Cafetero and Antioquia and, later, as program officer in climate change and energy. While in Mexico, she directed the UN Coordination Office and supported the Resident Coordinator.
Piedad joined UNEP in 2015 as regional development coordination officer for Latin America and the Caribbean contributing to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda through national policies and UN Development Frameworks. She served as deputy regional director for LAC. She currently heads the Strategic Planning Unit and is also Officer in Charge of the GEF Coordination Unit in the Policy and Programme Division.
She has a degree in Environmental Sciences and a MSc in Economic Integration and Development Economics, studies that she undertook at the Universidad Autonoma of Madrid, University of Manchester, Tufts University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. She enjoys nature, painting and reading. She is married and is a mother of two lovely children.
